Vacuum cleaner



Feb. 26, 1952 c. H. SPARKLIN 2,586,875

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 27, 1948 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 26, 1952 c.H. SPARKLIN VACUUM CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 27, 1948 kfijigga 7%Zi Feb. 26, 1952 c. H. SPARKLIN 2,586,876

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 27, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 abedded dirt will bejarred loose. means may be operated at any time, but it is pre- PatentedFeb. 26, 1952 VACUUM CLEANER Charles H. Sparklin, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to Birtman Electric Company, a corporation of IllinoisApplication October 27, 1948, Serial No. 56,803

9 Claims. (01. 183-55) This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner havinga dirt separating member therein together with means for agitating theseparating member for loosening embedded dirt.

This invention is related to that described and claimed in my copendingapplication Serial No. 750,188, filed May 24, 1947, now Patent Number2,541,122.

Vacuum cleaners ordinarily employ an air pervious filter or screen toseparate dirt from an air stream that is drawn through the separatingmember. A substantial portion of the dirt has been found to remain onand in the screen so that this dirt at least partially closes theopenings in the screen. Back pressure is thus developed which reducesthe efficiency of the cleaner. The invention of the above copendingapplication and the present invention are both concerned with means foragitating the screen so that the em- The agitatin ferred that it beoperated when the vacuum cleaner is not operating so that there will beno flow of air through the screen resisting the loosening of the dirt.

' The present invention is concerned with an improved constructionwherein the vacuum cleaner casing is provided with a baiile spaced fromone wall of the casing and in sealing engagement therewith and with themeans for operating the agitating means being located in the spacebetween the baiile and the adjacent side of the casing. An operatingportion of the agitating means extends through a longitudinal slot insaid side of the casing so that the operating means can be operated. Aportion of the operating means extends through the bafile into theinterior of the casing with this portion of the operating means beingconnected to a resilient agitating means normally located adjacent thedirt separating member or filter. That portion of the operating meanswhich extends through the baiile is also sealed so as to preventsubstantial amounts of dirt entering the space between the bafile andthe adjacent side of the casing.

The present invention is also concerned with improved means foroperating a switch that is arranged in the electric circuit to the motorwhich operates the suction fan of the vacuum cleaner. In the newconstruction, a switch operating arm is rotatably connected to a portionof the operating means. This arm is arranged to contact the switch andclose it after the operating means has caused the separating member tobe agitated. In a preferred construction, the switch is located in aportion of the cleaner outside the baille and the switch operating armextends through an opening in the baffle for contact with the switch.The new cleaner provides a more efficient construction in thatsubstantial amounts of dirt are kept from the operating means and theoperating means is located almost entirely within the casing of theVacuum cleaner. The switch operating portion of the new apparatus isalso more positive in its operation and is also located within thecasing of the vacuum cleaner.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiment shown inthe acccompanying drawings. Of the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevationof a vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is afragmentary side elevation of said embodiment taken at substantiallyright angles to the elevation of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial verticalsection through the vacuum cleaner of Figs. 1 and 2 taken substantiallyalong line 3--3 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken alongline 4-4 of Fig. 3 with portions broken away for clarity ofillustration; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of one side ofthe embodiment showing the operating mechanism and with portions brokenaway for clarity of illustration; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectiontaken along line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Although the invention as shown is applied to a vertical tank typevacuum cleaner, it is believed apparent thatit can be employed with anycleaning apparatus or the like wherein dirt is separated from a flow ofair by passing the air through a screen or other separating member.

In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the vacuum cleanercomprises a casing to divided into an upper portion Ilia and a lowerportion Iflb. These portions are adapted to be arranged in edge-to-edgerelationship and are separated by a relatively thick resilient gasket H.The upper portion of the cleaner is removable from the lower portion andthe portions are held together by conventional clamping means (notshown). The upper portion Illa of the casing is provided with a housing[2 which encloses a motor i3 held in a resilient mounting l4 held in thehousing l2. On the bottom end of the motor shaft there is positioned asuction fan l5 that communicates with the interior of the easing ID. Afilter screen l6 of cloth, or the like, is positioned across the bottomopen end of the upper portion Illa of the cleaner casing. This filterscreen may be held in place by the gasket I I, as shown, or may be heldby any other means desired.

The lower portion lflb of the cleaner casing is provided with resilientmeans in the form of coil springs I! normally located adjacent thebottom surface of the filter screen i6, as shown in Fig. 3. In theembodiment shown, there are provided four of these coil springs H witheach spring extending from a corner of the lower casing portion lb andattached to a plate 18 adjacent the center of the filter screen l6. Eachcoil spring i! has its outer end attached to a bracket is locatedadjacent a corner of the lower casing portion [3b.

The lower casing portion IDb is provided with a conventional opening andan inwardly directed collar 20 therearound with this collar beingprovided with an annular groove 201) on the inner surface thereofserving as a means for attaching a flexible air intake hose. This hosemay carry the conventional wand used in cleaning operations. Oppositethe inner end of the collar20 and spaced therefrom, there is located abaffle member 2| having an opening in the top for directing the dirtladen air stream toward the filter screen l6 and thus minimizingagitation of the dirt in the bottom of the lower casing portion lob.

Located adjacent one wall of the lower casing portion 16b is a baflie22. This baflle is arranged substantially parallel to the wall I00 andis spaced therefrom, as shown in Fig. 6. The bailie 22 has its topportion curved outwardly and joined to the wall I00. The sides of thebaflle are joined to the adjacent walls of the lower casing section lband the bottom of the battle is joined to the bottom of the lower casingportion. Thus, a sealed space is provided between the baffie and thewall I00.

In order to operate the agitating means which includes the coil springs11, there is provided a rod member 23, preferably of hexagonal shape,extending between the bafile 22 across the lower casing portion lOb tothe opposite wall thereof. This rod member is mounted for rotation aboutits longitudinal axis and is provided with an arm 24 attached theretofor rotation therewith, with the outer end of this arm being attached bymeans of a short spring 25 to the plate I8 to which the springs I! arejoined. When the rod member 23 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 3, the plate 18 and springs I! are drawnaway from the filter screen 16, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig.3.

In order to rotate the rod member 23 and arm 24 and draw the springs I!away from the filter screen, there is provided, in the space between thebaffle 22 and the adjacent side of the casing, a lever arm 26 rigidlyfastened to the end of the rod member 23 that extends through. thebafile. This lever arm is located against a mounting plate 21 that ismounted on the bafiie 2! with this baffle plate being divided into twoportions 21a and 21b so that when the two portions are assembled, asshown in Fig. 5, they surround the rod member 23.

Mounted on the portion 21a of the plate 21 there is located a lever 28that is rotatable about a fulcrum 28a. This lever is normally positionedadjacent the lever arm 26 when the lever is in its topmost position. Thelever is urged toward this topmost position by a coil spring 29extendingbetween the outer end of the lever 28 and a bracket 210 at the top ofthe mounting plate portion 21b. Rotatably mounted on the lever 28 1s adog 30 having a hook portion 38a adapted to engage the lever arm 26. Thelower end of the dog beyond its fulcrum is provided with a 0011 pring 3|extending between said end .ofthe dog and the upper portion of the lever28. This Sprmg ur es the dog in a clockwise direction. as

shown in Fig. 5.

The end of the lever 28 on the side of the fulcrum 28a opposite the dog30 is provided with a vertically movable lever 32 rotatably attachedthereto. This lever 32 extends upwardly through a slot 2la in the top ofthe bafiie 2i and is arranged to engage a switch 33 mounted in the uppercasing portion "la. The slot 2 la is located substantially immediatelyabove the point of attachment of the vertically movable lever 32 and theslot serves as a guide for the vertically movable lever 32.

In order that the lever 28 may be operated, the end 28b thereof oppositethe fulcrum 28a is turned outwardly to extend through an arcuate opening[0d inthe lower casing portion [61). This outwardly turned end 28b ispreferably provided with a treadle member 34, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.The end of the lever 28 adjacent the treadle portion 34 is provided witha guide member 35 attached thereto. This guide member has top and bottomflange portions that extend slightly less than the distance between thebaflle 22 and the adjacent wall N0 of the casing, as shown in Fig. 6.This guide member insures movement of the lever 28 in a substantiallyvertical plane.

When the cleaner is not operating, the lever 28 is located in itstopmost position adjacent the lever arm 26 with the dog 30 engaging thislever arm- (Fig. 5). The only way that the switch 33 can be closed tooperate the cleaner is by pressin down on the treadle member34 on theoutside of the casing. Movement of the lever 28 in this direction causesa similar movement of the lever arm 25 and thus rotation of the rodmember 23 and the attached arm 24 to draw the springs I! away from thefilter screen l6. When the parts have reached the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 5, the hook portion 30a of the dog 36 have justabout become disengaged from the arm. Further downward movement of thelever 28 causes this disengagement and the springs I! immediately snapback against the filter screen It and agitate it to jar loose embeddeddirt. During this downward movement of the lever 28 the switch opcratinglever 32 has been moving upwardly. The parts are so proportioned,however, that the lever 32 does not close the switch until after thelever 28 has been moved to a position where the lever arm 26 isreleased. With this arrangement, the filter screen I6 is always agitatedbefore the switch 33 starts the operation of the motor.

As soon as pressure on the lever 28 has been released, the spring 29returns the lever to its initial position. As the outer end of the leverarm 26 is provided with a sloping cam surface 26a and the outer end ofthe hook portion 30a of the dog 36 is also provided with a slopin camsurface 3011, the engagement of these cam surfaces causes rotation ofthe dog 36 against the action of the spring 3| so that the dog may againengage the lever arm 26.

When it is desired to stop the operation of the cleaner, the treadle 3!-is again pushed down so as to rotate the lever 28 and cause the switchcontacting lever 22 to again operate the switch. With this arrangementthe filter screen I6 is again agitated just before the motor is turnedoff.

The switch 33 is preferably mounted on a bracket 36 that is located inthe upper casing portion Illa. The filter screen I6 is provided with anopening therein immediately beneath 5, this bracket 36 so that the topend of the lever 32 may extend therethrough. The area around thisopening, however, is sealed by providing a gasket 31 and a nut 38 withthe filter screen being arranged therebetween.

The vacuum cleaner described herein provides a substantially dust freespace between the baffle 22 and the adjacent wall lflc above the casewith the principal operating portions of the agitating means beinglocated within this space. The only openings to the space from theinterior of the claims are those through which the rod member 23' andthe lever 32 extend. The rod member 23 is sealed in its opening,however, while the opening Zia through which the lever 32 extends isvery small.

Having described my invention as set out in the accompanying drawings itis my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the detailsof'description unless otherwise specified, but rather be construedbroadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanyingclaims.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a dirt separating membertherein and a motordriven fan for drawing air through said separatingmember, means for agitating said separating member comprising resilientmeans normally arranged adjacent the separating member, amanually-operable lever pivotally mounted on a fulcrum, meansoperatively connecting said lever and said resilient means so thatrotation of the lever causes the resilient means to be drawn away fromthe separating member, means for disengaging said lever from saidresilient means after the resilient means has been drawn away from theseparating member to permit the resilient means to snap against theseparating member, a switch in the electric circuit to the motor, and anarm rotatably mounted on the lever for operating the switch after saiddisengagement of the lever and resilient means.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said switch-operating arm ispivotally mounted on said lever on the end thereof opposite the point ofconnection of the lever to the resilient means.

3. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a dirt separating membertherein and a motordriven fan for drawing air through said separatingmember, a baffle located adjacent to and spaced from one side of thecasing and sealing the space between the bafiie and said casing sidefrom said air stream, said baffle being in sealing relationship with theadjacent side of the casing, a resilient means normally arrangedadjadent the separating member, a manually-operable lever pivotallymounted in the space between the ballle and the adjacent side of thecasing and including a portion extending through an elongated opening insaid side of the casing for operation of said lever, means extendingthrough said baflie and operatively connecting said lever and resilientmeans so that rotation of the lever causes the resilient means to bedrawn away from the separating member, and means for disengaging thelever from the resilient means after said drawing away to permit theresilient means to snap against the separating member.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3 wherein means are provided normallyurging said lever to a position for operative engagement with theresilient means.

5. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a dirt separating membertherein and a motordriven fan for drawing air through said separatingmember, a baflle located adjacent to and spaced from one side of thecasing and in sealing relationship therewith and sealing the spacebetween the baflle and said casing side from said air stream, aresilient means normally arranged adjacent the separating member, amanuallyoperable lever pivotally mounted about a fulcrum in the spacebetween the bafiie and the adjacent side of the casing and including aportion extending through an elongated opening in said side of thecasing for operation of said lever, an arm pivotally mounted about afulcrum in said space and arranged adjacent the lever, means extendingthrough said baflle and operatively connecting the arm. and resilientmeans so that rotation of the arm about its fulcrum causes the resilientmeans to be drawn away from the separating member, means operativelyconnecting said lever and arm so that rotation of the lever causes saidrotation of said arm, means for disengagin said lever and said arm whenthe resilient means has been drawn away from the separating member,means for automatically engaging said arm and lever when the lever ismoved to a position adjacent said arm, means normally urging said leverto said position, a switch in the electric circuit to the motor andlocated outside the baffle but Within the casing, and an arm rotatablymounted on the lever and extending through the baiiie for operating theswitch after said disengagement of the lever and arm.

6. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a dirt separating membertherein and a motordriven fan for drawing air through said separatingmember, means for agitating said separating member comprising resilientmeans normally arranged adjacent the separating member, amanually-operable lever pivotally mount ed on a fulcrum, meansoperatively connecting said lever and said resilient means so thatrotation of the lever causes the resilient means to be drawn away fromthe separating member, means for disengaging said lever from saidresilient means after the resilient means has been drawn away from theseparatin member to permit the resilient means to snap against theseparating member, a switch in the electric circuit to the motor, an armrotatably mounted on the lever for operating the switch after saiddisengagement of the lever and resilient means, said casing beingdivided "into two separable parts arranged one above the other with thedirt-separating member, fan, motor and switch being located on the upperpart and the resilient means, lever and rotatable arm being located onthe lower part.

7. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a dirt separating membertherein and a motordriven fan for drawing air through said separatingmember, a baflie located inwardly of and adjacent one wall of the casingin sealing relationship therewith, means within the casing for agitatingsaid dirt separating member including a rotatable member extendingthrough the baflie and journalled thereon, and an actuating memberjournalled on said bafiie and operatively engageable with the inner endof said rotatable member for operating the agitating means, saidactuating member being 10- (rated between the baflle and adjacent casingwall to protect said member from the dirt within with said actuatingmember being rotatably' mounted on said plate and said platealsocarrying spring means operably connected to the actuating member andurging it intooperative engagement with the rotatable member.

9. Ina vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt separating member and a,motor-driven fan,

means normally arranged adjacent the sepa- 1.

rating member for agitating said member, a switch in the electricalcircuit to the motor, apparatus movable through a path from one positionto a second position, means including a part of said movable apparatusfor operating said-agitating; means at a point in saidpath, and

an arm mounted on said movable apparatus and movable generallylongitudinally for engagement with and operation of said switchatafurther point in said path and subsequent to the operationof theagitating means.

CHARLES H. SPARKLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following" references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date Re. 21,978 Leathers Dec. 16,1941 1,621,824 Boesger Mar. 22, 1927 1,715,273 Billings May 28, 19292,211,934 McAllister Aug. 20 1940 2,266,976 Leathers Dec. 23,1941

